This is a chapter from a forthcoming book on the treatment of former entrepreneurs in the Dutch personal insolvency law (the Wsnp). To contribute a comparative perspective, this chapter contrasts the Dutch law and practice with developments in the United States, England and Wales, Germany,...

We estimate the effects of R&D on firms' credit ratings and on financial distress. The main purpose is the comparison of firms in Western Germany and Eastern Germany as a transitional economy. Innovative activity has a positive impact on firm value proxied by ratings in Western Germany, but a...